NDP MLA Sterling Belliveau says a little over a year ago the Resource Recovery Fund Board (RRFB) requested an increase, but the previous government said no.

“When I was Minister of Environment I turned down a similar request from the RRFB,” said Belliveau. “I just didn’t think it would be fair to families to raise the price of snow tires. Apparently the current Liberal Environment Minister doesn’t feel the same way.”

According to provincial solid waste regulations, the Resource Recovery Fund Board must make a request to the Minister of Environment to alter or modify an approved program. It also says that all new surcharges established by the Minister must be approved by Cabinet (http://novascotia.ca/just/regulations/REGS/envsolid.htm#TOC3_11).

In April of 2014 the government announced it was also considering increasing the bottle deposit. Belliveau hopes the Liberals don’t proceed with the increase.

“You can look it up in the public archive, last year as Minister I made a commitment to not increase the bottle deposit,” said Belliveau. “I’m hopeful the Minister of Environment will not break this government commitment. That being said, I’m skeptical given that Minister Delorey just approved an increase to the tire recycling fee.”